Parkinson's study seeks poor smellers

Amanda Cuda

Published 10:48 pm, Sunday, June 30, 2013

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To take partIf you are interested in participating in the Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative, visit www.michaeljfox.org/PPMI or call 1-877-525-PPMI (7764).

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Those over 60 with a reduced sense of smell are wanted for the local branch of a study on Parkinson's disease.

The Institute for Neurodegenerative Disorders in New Haven announced last week that it is looking for people with depleted sniff ability to participate in the new arm of the Michael J. Fox Foundation's Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative. The $55 million international study was launched worldwide in 2010 to identify possible risk factors for Parkinson's. If these markers are found, scientists might better predict, diagnose and monitor the brain disorder.

One possible factor associated with Parkinson's is reduced sense of smell, also known as hyposmia. Between 95 percent and 98 percent of people with Parkinson's disease have a depleted sense of smell, said Dr. Dana Jennings, director of clinical research for Institute for Neurodegenerative Disorders.

"Clearly, not everybody who loses their sense of smell goes on to develop Parkinson's," Jennings said. "There are lots of things that cause people to lose their sense of smell."

But because hyposmia is so common among people with Parkinson's, it was deemed worthy of investigation.

The Fox foundation is looking for 10,000 people worldwide to fill out a survey to determine whether they're eligible for the study. If they qualify, they will be mailed a scratch-and-sniff test with about 40 items.

From there, about 100 people will selected to participate in the study, which will follow them for four years. To be eligible, you must be 60 or older, without Parkinson's disease.

The Institute for Neurodegenerative Disorders is one of 23 sites participating in the study worldwide. The institute, founded in 2001, is a nonprofit research facility that works to develop diagnostic tools and treatments for people with Parkinson's and other neurodegenerative conditions.

About 50,000 Americans are diagnosed with Parkinson's each year. It is a disorder of the brain that leads to tremors and difficulty with walking, moving and coordination. Actor Michael J. Fox, whose foundation is engineering the study, is one of the disease's most high-profile sufferers.